Flush valve



Vvvvv fem V w. E. SLOAN FLUSH VALVE Filed Feb. 5 1931 v Aug. 4, 1936.

6 6. m 3 A m a //4// Hi Z a 3 5 w Z w 3 3 I Z m w Zllillllfil a Patented Aug. 4, 1936 PATENT OFFICE FLUSH VALVE William Sloan, Chicago, 111.

' Application February I 8 Claims.

This invention relates to flush valves andhas for its object to provide anew and improved device ofthis description. The invention has as a further object to provide a flush valve wherein the amount of water passing through the-valve may be varied as desired. The invention has as a further object to produce this result without changing or varying the by-pass of the valve or the distance through which the valve moves in its cycle of operation, and it has as a further object to provide an adjustment for varying the amount of water passing through the valve, such adjustment being accessible fromthe outside of the valve. The invention has other objects which are more particularly pointed out in the accompanying description. 7 Referring now to the drawing, Fig. lis a longitudinal sectional view of one form of flush valve embodying the invention;

Fig. 2'is a view of the flush valve in part section showing the operation of the non-hold open feature;

Fig. 3 is a view of the adjusting member.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

In the constructionshown in the drawing',the flush valve is provided with a casinghaving a lower section I and an upper section-2. There is an inlet 3 through which the water enters, and an outlet 4 through which the water is discharged. The casing is provided with an inner cylindrical part 5, the upper edge 6 'of which acts as the seat for the main valve which, as herein shown is a diaphragm valve consisting of a diaphragm I having its edges clamped between-the upper part of section 1 of the casing and a clamping member 8, the clamping member'bei'ng'pressed against the upper part of the diaphragm'by the shoulder 9 on the upper casing sectionZ when said section is in position.

Connected with the diaphragm 2 is acylindrical portion II] which slides in the cylindrical part 5 and which is preferably provided with guiding wings II. The diaphragm is provided with Ia central opening, and an auxiliary valve I2 is. carried by the main valve and is provided with an actuating member which consists of the parts I3 and I4 slidably connected together., The part I3 is provided with'an enlargement I5 which engages a shoulder I6 on the 'part I4 so as to limit the downward movement of the part I4. The auxiliary valve I2 engages a seat II. The main valve, consisting of the diaphragm and attached parts, divides the casing into two chambers I8 1931, Serial No. 513,529 (01. 137-93) and I9. A by-pass 20 of small cross sectional area connects the two chambers on opposite sides of the main valve. This by-pass permits water to pass from chamber I8 up into chamber I9 so as to equalize the pressure in the two chambers. 5

The valve is operated by opening the auxiliary valve I2. This permits the water in chamber I9 to escape down into the discharge 4, reducing the pressure above the'diaphragm so that the pressure in chamber I8 below the diaphragm lifts the 10 main valve so as to permit the water to-fiow from the inlet 3 between the diaphragm l and the seat 6, and thence out through the discharge 4. This opening of the auxiliary valve is accomplished by means of a handle 2! which engages an enlarged end 22 of an operating member 23, which operating member engages the actuating member of the auxiliary valve so as to move the lower end thereof laterally to tilt the auxiliary valve to open it. The operating member 23 ismoved inwardly when the handle is moved in any direction. There is a retracting spring 24 for returning the 1 parts to their initial position when the handle is released.

When the auxiliary valve is opened, the main 25 valve is lifted, carrying the auxiliary valve with it, and this carries the actuating member of the auxiliary valve above the operating member 23. The auxiliary valve then is moved so as to "be closed and the water passing through the by-pass 20 builds up the pressure in the upper chamber I9 and this pressure, together with the weight of the main valve, causes the main valve to move downwardly to its closed position. If, now, the handle 2| is held in its operative position so that the operating member 23 is still under the actuating member of the auxiliary valve, the part I4 of such actuating member will engage the top of the operating member 23and slide along the member I 3 without opening the auxiliary valve I2, thereby permitting the main valve to close. It will thus be seen that this provides a non-hold open feature which prevents the valve from being held open by holding the handle 2| in its operative position.

Means is provided for varying the amount of water passing through the valve without changing or varying the by-pass or the distance through which the main valves moves in its cycle of opfits in the space between the valve casing andthe cylindrical portion ID, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The control member 25 is adjusted from the exterior of the valve so that it may be moved up or down to vary the amount of water passing through the valve. In the construction shown this control member has a projection 26 with a slot 21. Mounted on the casing in proximity to the projection 26 is a rocking member 28 having a pin 29 eccentrically connected therewith and which Works in the slot 21. The rocking member 28 is provided with a projection 33 which engages a shoulder 3| which limits its downward movement. The rocking member 28 is rocked in any desired manner, as by applying a tool to the f'e-' cess 32 in the end 33 which projects through the packing gland 34 so as to be readily accessible from the exterior of the valve. The removable cap 35 normally covers the end 33. The projection 26 has a guide member 36 connected therewith which works in a guide 31.

If. it is desired tolift thecontrol member 25 so as. to reduce the amount of water passing through the valve, the rocking member 28 is moved. soas to bring the pin 29 to a higher position. When it is desired to increase the amount oi water passing through the valve, the rocking member is movedso as to bring, the pin 29. in a lower position, thus lowering the control member. The use and operation of my invention are as follows:

When it is desired to operate the valve, the handle tl is moved in any direction, and. this causes the member 23to be moved inwardly so as to engage the stem of the auxiliary valve so as to tilt said valve and permit the water in chamber IE to. escape. The main valve then moves upwardly so as to permit water to flow from the inlet 3 throughthe valve and out the: outlet 4. If, now, the handle 2| is held in its operative position, the valve will go through its. cycle and as it lowers, the part [4 engages the operating member 23, as showninFig. 2, and slidesalong the member 13 so as to permit'the main. valve to sit. This construction provided a non-hold open featureior the valve. I

It will be seen that when the end of, the part-1.0 ofthe main valve, as it is m'oving towards its closedposition, comes opposite the control member 2.5, the. flow of the water is partiallyor'wholly stopped at'that point. This, therefore, reduces the amount of water which flows through the main valve before it. reaches its closed position- It will. thus be seen that by moving the control member 25- upwardly, this closing effect is. secured earlier in the movement of the. main valve and the amount of water passing through the main valve thus reduced. It will further be seen that by moving this control member downwardly the closing? efiect is produced later infthe cycle of themai'n valve and therefore more wa-terpasses through the main valve. By proper adjustment of this control member, it will be seen that any desired amount of water may be passed through the valve at one cycle of its operation and when the actuating handle 2| is being held in its operative position. In other words,,the adjustmentof the amount of water flowing through the valve is independent of all of these-agencies. The ad justment can be easily and quickly made from the exterior of thecasing.

It will be seen that'by means of" this construction the amount of water passing through the valve in any given cycle of operationis varied by throttling this water. In' other words, bymeans of this device the main valve' may be opened a the by-pass, as well as Without changing the travel of the main valve.

Furthermore, this construction is of great assistance in securing the desired amount of refill water, that is water for filling the bowl, for after the main flush has occurred this! construction throttles the water so that it does not rushout through the bowl but flows gently intothe' bowl so as to properly refill it. The

packi-ngi-n the-packing, gland 34 is kept tight and prevents the part 28 from being accidentally turned 1. Aflush valve comprising a casing having an inlet-and anoutlet, a main valve in the casing dividing itinto: an; upper and lower chamber, a seat therefona connection leading from the upper chambertl-irough the=main valveto said outlet, an auxiliary valve controlling said connection, an actuating. device for said auxiliary valve, said main valve having a downwardly projecting portion ex tending below the maimvalve seat separated from the interior. wall of the casing by a space, a control member fitting in. this space, and means for adjusting said control member to vary the amount of water passing between the. main valve and. its seat due. to the opening, of the main valve at any given cycle of its operation.

. 2. A flush valve comprising a; casing having an inlet; and an outlet,v a. main valve in the casing dividing it into an upper and lower chamber, a. seat therefor, a connection. leading from the upper chamber through thecmain valve to said outlet, an auxiliary valve controlling said. connection, actuating: device for said auxiliary valve, said main valve having a. downwardly projecting portion extending below the main valve seat separated from the interior wall of the. casing. by a space, a control member fitting inthis-space, and means for adjusting said control member to varythe amount of water passing. between the main valve and its seat due to the opening of the main valve at any given. cycle ofits. operation, said adjusting means accessible from the exterior of. the casing.

3.. A. flush valve. comprising a casing. having aninlet and anoutlet,,a main valve in the casing dividing it. into an. upper and lower chamber, a con 'r'iection. leading; from. the upper chamber through. the main. valve to said outlet, an auxilia'ry. valve. control-ling; said-connection, an actuati'rig device for said auxiliary valve,.said main valve. having a downwardly projecting portion sepana d ir'om interiorlwallof the. casing by a 'spac fa-"c'ontiiol' mmber fitting in this. space, andmeans for. adjusting'said. control member to varytliejainouhtfof water passing. between the main valveandit's seat due to the opening of'themain. valve at any given cycle of its operationjsaid means comprising. an engaging part whiclr'engages' said control member, and means formovingsaidengaging part to raise or lower the control member; V

' 4. A flushpva'lve comprising, a casing having an inlet and an outlet, amainva'lvein the casing dividing it n 'ifw u e and o e a b nia connection "leading" mmthe upper" chamber through the main valve to said outlet, an auxiliary valve controlling said connection, an actuating device for said auxiliary valve, said main valve having a downwardly projecting portion separated from the interior wall of the casing by a space, a control member fitting in this space, and means for adjusting said control member to vary the amount of water passing between the main valve and its seat due to the opening of the main valve at any given cycle of its operation, said means comprising a rocking member, a pin eccentrically connected therewith which projects into a slot in the control member, and means accessible from the exterior of the valve for rocking said rocking member to raise or lower the control member.

5. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet of constant cross sectional area and an outlet, a main valve in the casing dividing it into an upper and lower chamber and provided with a hollow annular extension projecting downwardly therefrom, a bypass connecting the two chambers, a connection leading from the upper chamber through the main valve to said outlet, an auxiliary valve controlling said connection, an actuating device for said auxiliary valve, and vertically adjusting means located below the lower end of the bypass and at a distance therefrom and co-acting with the main Valve and having a throttling member which extends around the casing near the end of the extension on the main valve to form a throttling passage defined by the extension on the main valve and the throttling member for varying the amount of water passing between the main valve and its seat due to the opening of the main Valve at any given cycle of operation thereof, and

' means for maintaining the distance substantially constant through which the main valve moves in such cycle of operation.

6. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet of constant cross sectional area and an outlet, a main valve in the casing dividing it into an upper and lower chamber and provided with a hollow annular extension projecting downwardly therefrom, a. bypass connecting the two chambers, a connection leading from the upper chamber through the main valve to said outlet, an auxiliary valve controlling said connection an actuating device for said auxiliary valve, and a concealed adjustable means located below the lower end of the bypass and at a distance therefrom and co-acting with the main valve and having a throttling member which extends around the casing near the end of the extension on the main valve to form a throttling passage defined by the extension on the main valve and the throttling member for varying the amount of water passing between the main valve and its seat due to the opening of the main valve at any given cycle of operation thereof, and means for maintaining the distance substantially constant through which the main valve moves in such cycle of operation, said adjustable means being accessible from the exterior of the casing and being rendered operative by movement of the main valve.

7. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet of constant cross sectional area and an outlet, a main valve in the casing dividing it into an upper and a lower chamber, a connection leading from the upper chamber through the main valve to said outlet, an auxiliary valve controlling said connection, an actuating device for said auxiliary valve, a hollow annular extension connected with said main valve and projecting downwardly therefrom and separated by a space from the casing, an annular throttling member separate from the casing and said annular extension and located in proximity to the lower end of said annular extension and forming a throttling passage defined by said annular throttling member and said annular extension for throttling the amount of water passing between the casing and said annular extension during a portion of the closing movement of the main valve.

8. A flush valve comprising a casing having an inlet of constant cross sectional area and an outlet, a main valve in the casing dividing it into an upper and a lower chamber and provided with a hollow annular extension projecting downwardly therefrom, a connection leading to said outlet, an auxiliary valve controlling said connection, an actuating device for said auxiliary valve, and reciprocating throttling means associated with the main valve for throttling the amount of water passing between the main valve and its seat during a portion of the closingmovement of said main valve, the main valve being located intermediate said inlet and said throttling means, said throttling means being adjustable toward and away from said main valve, said adjustable means being provided with an annular throttling member extending around the exterior of said annular extension on the main valve to provide a throttling passage defined by said annular extension and the annular throttling member so as to vary the amount of water passing through the main valve in any given cycle of its operation.

WILLIAM E. SLOAN. 

